Transportation

''D.C.'s High Line" Could Transform the Banks of the Anacostia

The proposed elevated park across the Anacostia would be a first for D.C. The group backing it has launched a national design competition to design a bridge that fosters economic development, promotes community health, and cleans the river.

April 2, 2014 - Elevation DC

Port Authority Funds Diverted to New Jersey Roads and Bridges

As an alternative to raising the nation's second lowest gas tax (but lacking Alaska's oil wells), The Record found that Gov. Christie diverted toll revenue from the Port Authority and used them for state-owned facilities such as the Pulaskie Skyway.

April 2, 2014 - The Record

What's Wrong With Walk Score's Food Desert Map

Walk Score’s new food desert map is a potentially powerful tool in the ongoing policy debate about access to healthy foods. But it’s still a work in progress.

April 2, 2014 - Next City

Proposed Transit Fare Increase Provokes Strong Opposition in Los Angeles

More than 500 “activists, students and low-wage workers” spent their Saturday at a public hearing at the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority imploring the agency’s board not to raise fees.

March 31, 2014 - Los Angeles Times

Grocery Store Walk

How Easy is Walking to the Grocery Store in Your City?

Angie Schmitt shares news of an effort by WalkScore to rank cities based on the ability of residents to access grocery stores on foot. WalkScore invites planners all over country to use their data to improve walkable access to food in cities.

March 31, 2014 - Streetsblog USA

Report: California High-Speed Rail Won't Meet Travel Time Requirement

In 2008, California voters approved the country's only true HSR project with a travel time of 2 hours, 40 minutes from L.A. to San Francisco. Anything more than that might cause legislators to balk at proposed cap-and-trade funding for the train.

March 31, 2014 - Los Angeles Times

Amsterdam Bikes

Can Biking Be for Everyone?

Most bikers are white and have a college degree. A recent article examines the Baltimore Bike Experience as an example of the types of programs that could expand the use of biking into other parts of the city, among other benefits.

March 29, 2014 - Governing

The Car-Free Share, and Hail, Their Rides

Ben Adler considers the availability of car-sharing and cab services in maintaining a car-free population.

March 29, 2014 - Grist

Christie Vindicated!

The facts are in—N.J. Gov Chris Christie did not know of the lane closures on the George Washington Bridge, much less order them, according to an internal report commissioned by the governor himself that did not interview any of the key witnesses.

March 29, 2014 - The Star-Ledger

Dearborn Street Bike Lane

The Place for Bike Lanes

Initial attempts at making city streets more encouraging to cyclists have often been marred by poor design.

March 28, 2014 - Better! Cities & Towns

Texas Mayors Support High Speed Rail

The mayors of Dallas, Fort Worth, and Houston recently announced their support of a high-speed rail connection between the two metropolitan areas. The line would be privately funded.

March 28, 2014 - Dallas News

Development Benefits of Minneapolis’ Blue Line Scrutinized

A new paper in the Regional Science and Urban Economics journal presents a lukewarm review of the Minneapolis Blue Line’s impact on development through 2010—doing little to buoy the market during the Great Recession.

March 28, 2014 - Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune

County Income Taxes for Transit? Hoosiers to Decide

When it comes to allowing voters to decide whether to increase local or state taxes for transportation, the most common option by far is the local or state sales tax. But what about income taxes; has it been tried before? And for public transit only?

March 28, 2014 - Nuvo

Legal Battle Over Transportation Network Companies Shifts to Chicago

Chicago political leaders are floating a pair of competing bills that would regulate transportation network companies like Uber, Lyft, and Sidecar. Cab companies are pushing for legislation, seeking a “level playing field” in the market.

March 27, 2014 - Crain's Chicago Business

Kansas City Streetcar Expansion Moves Forward; Wealthy Enclave Opts Out

A pair of articles by the Kansas City Star details a surprising development in the preparation for an expansion of the city’s streetcar: the affluent neighborhood of Brookside along the southwest corridor of the proposed extension opted out.

March 27, 2014 - Kansas City Star

Checking in on the Bicycle Backlash

Alan Davies writes from Down Under about a recent controversy in the Australian media about the “menace” of cycling in the urban core—where some are tired of the bicycle lobby's advancements of its cause.

March 26, 2014 - Crikey - The Urbanist

Houston Launching 'Goal Zero' Bike Safety Program

Following the lead of New York City and San Francisco, Houston is the latest large American city to launch a program aimed at eliminating bike fatalities. The program includes funding for the creation of a Bicycle Master Plan.

March 26, 2014 - Office of Mayor Annise Parker

A Female Champion for Salt Lake City’s 'Transportation Revolution'

Robin Hutcheson has led the transportation planning division of Salt Lake City since 2011—a period of expansion for multi-modal transportation improvements all over the city.

March 26, 2014 - The Atlantic Cities

Room for Improvement for Citi Bike—But Not Dead Yet

Nancy Scola responds to a recent Wall Street Journal article detailing the ongoing financial troubles of Citi Bike—New York City’s bikeshare program, which is reportedly scrambling for money and operating deeply in the red.

March 26, 2014 - Next City

Tappan Zee Bridge Bike and Pedestrian Path Sparks Controversy

A recent article calls it likes it sees it: most would consider a three-mile bike and pedestrian path over the Hudson River a gift. Not so in South Nyack, at the western end of a new Tappan Zee Bridge, where such a plan sparked vehement opposition.

March 26, 2014 - New York Times

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.